Cajun Fare, And Then Some

Cajun King in Kaimuki may be the go-to spot if you want a fresh seafood feast. But, according to manager Simon Chik, the restaurant offers a lot more than just straight-up Cajun cuisine.

On the backside of the Cajun King menu, customers can see a variety of Asian-style specials that are perfect for pairing with any of the Special Combos. Stir-Fried String Beans with Garlic ($12) is one of the most popular sides, Chik says.

“We offer a lot of items that aren’t Cajun,” he explains. “Usually, customers will order a combo and add the Stir-Fried String Beans on the side so they can have some vegetables with their meal. A lot of our sides are traditional, Chinese-style dishes.”

And, customers can rest assured that they’re getting a good deal with this menu item.”You get a lot of shrimp — there’s over a pound of shrimp per order,” Chik says. “In fact, each order comes with 16 to 18 pieces of shrimp.”

Other available Chinese-style sides include Spicy Eggplant ($12), Ginger & Onion Oysters ($16) and Black Bean Clams ($16). The veggie dishes are designed to provide some balance and greens to any seafood feast, Chik says.

If you want an appetizer to kick off your meal, Chik recommends oysters or clams. Oysters are $15 for half a dozen or $28 per dozen, while clams are $8 for half a dozen or $16 per dozen. He says seafood lovers are sure to be pleased with these options, since the oysters and clams are super fresh.

“Our oysters and clams are flown in from Washington, so they’re really fresh,” Chik confirms.

While Cajun King offers great lunch specials, the restaurant is more crowded during dinner. If customers are set on ordering one of the Special Combos for dinner, they can take advantage of the restaurant’s current promotion, which is 15 percent off any combo, according to Chik (see coupon on page 14). He says the deal is good for Combo Nos. 1-4, and notes that Combo No. 3 ($56) — which includes King Crab legs, crawfish, mussels, shrimp and clams — is the most popular. All combos include potatoes, two corn on the cobs, four sausages and rice.

“A lot of people think the prices are expensive for a combo, but they don’t realize that the combos are good for two people, maybe even three,” he states. “You’re actually getting 3.5-4.5 pounds of seafood, depending on the combo, so it’s a lot of food.”